4-H Forecast for Pipestone County

Join us for an evening of connection, celebration, and summer fun with Pipestone County 4-H!

📅 Date & Time: Thursday, July 16 at 6:00 p.m. with swim party from 7-9 p.m.
📍 Location: Harmon Park and Pipestone Family Aquatic Center

We’re excited to host a combined Leaders Council meeting, countywide pool party, and food truck event for all 4-H families! This is a great opportunity to stay informed, connect with other families, and enjoy a fun summer evening together.

Leaders Council Meeting
The evening will begin with the Leaders Council meeting. All 4-H families are invited and encouraged to attend. This is a great chance to hear updates, share ideas, and stay involved in shaping the future of the Pipestone County 4-H program.

Pool Party & Food Truck
Following the meeting, families are invited to enjoy a countywide pool party along with a food truck on site. Bring your swimsuits, towels, and appetite for a relaxed evening of summer fun!

To help us plan appropriately for both swimming and food service, please RSVP with the number of people attending. This ensures we can provide accurate headcounts for both the pool and food truck.

We hope you’ll join us for this fun-filled evening of 4-H connection and community!

ISO: Fair Assistants

4-H staff are currently searching for 4-Hers or volunteers to assist with livestock shows and general project judging.

General Project Judging Assistants will aid the judge in recording ribbon placing, notes, applying ribbons to projects, etc on Monday, July 27 and/or Thursday, July 30.

Livestock show assistants will help with handing out ribbons, announcing livestock shows, keeping track of placing, etc.

You're invited to the Pipestone County 4-H Public Fashion Revue on Monday, July 27, at 5:30 p.m. at Ridgeview Estates!

Come cheer on our local 4-H members as they showcase their creativity, confidence, and personal style. Participants will model the outfits they plan to exhibit at the Pipestone County Fair while gaining valuable experience in public speaking and presentation.

The Fashion Revue is open to all 4-H members, not just those enrolled in the clothing project area. Whether the outfit is sewn, purchased, casual, formal, or designed to fit a specific occasion, youth are encouraged to participate and celebrate their individual style.

Community members, family, and friends are invited to attend this free event and support our local 4-H youth as they prepare for the fair.

Interested in participating? Contact the Pipestone County 4-H Extension Office to let the 4-H staff know you'd like to be part of the Fashion Revue. We'd love to see you on the runway!

Youth who have completed grades 4–8 are invited to join Kitchen Chronicles, a fun and interactive cooking program designed to build confidence in the kitchen. Taking place on July 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., this hands-on experience will guide participants through basic kitchen skills and simple recipes they can easily recreate at home.

From measuring and mixing to learning safe food preparation techniques, youth will gain practical skills while enjoying time with peers. And of course, the best part, participants will get to taste their delicious creations!

Be sure to register by July 6 to secure your spot in this tasty learning experience.

4-H members are invited to strengthen their project presentations at the Intro to General Project Exhibit Displays workshop on July 21 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This interactive session is open to all members who have already identified their project area and begun their research or preparation.

Participants will explore examples of completed exhibit displays, learn practical tips for creating effective and visually appealing presentations, and have time to ask questions. In addition, youth will be able to work on their own displays and practice conference judging; helping them feel confident and prepared for upcoming events.

To make the most of this experience, participants are encouraged to bring research materials, display items, laptops or tablets, and any project components that will support their exhibit.

Be sure to register by July 13 to reserve your spot!

Youth are invited to spend an exciting afternoon outdoors at Explore with 4-H Day Camp on August 19 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Split Rock Creek State Park. This program offers an opportunity for young people to connect with nature through hands-on activities, games, and outdoor exploration.

Participants will discover the nature around them while building friendships and enjoying a fun, active event. Whether it’s exploring trails, learning about habitats, or simply enjoying time outside, this camp is sure to be a fun time.

Be sure to register by August 1 to reserve your spot!

Pipestone County 4-H Livestock Judging Contest
Date: Thursday, August 13
Location: Pipestone County Fairgrounds

Put your livestock evaluation skills to the test at the Pipestone County 4-H Livestock Judging Contest! This educational contest gives youth the opportunity to evaluate livestock classes, strengthen decision-making skills, and gain experience giving oral reasons.

Contest Schedule
Registration: 9:00 a.m.
Contest Begins: 9:30 a.m.

Participants will judge classes of beef cattle, sheep, swine, and meat goats, along with three sets of questions and oral reasons.

Who Can Participate?
Youth who have completed grades 3–13 are welcome to participate.

Registration Fee: $10 per participant
Lunch: Provided for all participants.

Registration Deadline: Friday, August 7

Whether you're preparing for future judging competitions or simply want to learn more about livestock evaluation, this contest is a great opportunity to build your skills in a fun and supportive environment. We hope to see you there!

Have you signed up for you shift in the 4-H food stand at the fair yet? All 4-H families are expected to work in the food stand, it’s one of only two fundraisers for the 4-H year and helps keep local programs/event offerings free or for low cost. It also helps support local 4-H members attending out of county offerings.

Slots are available on a first come, first serve basis. Info that will be needed to sign up will include name of the person signing up for the shift, email and phone number. You will receive a reminder email about a week before the county fair from the SignUpGenius site.

A reminder that when signing up for a designated time that one slot represents one person, please do not sign up multiple people for a job.

If you have any questions regarding food stand sign ups, please contact the Extension Office.

Also, a note all 4-H members planning on exhibiting at the MN State Fair, must work a shift at the food stand in addition to attending three club/leaders council meetings, participating in the annual fundraiser, and participating in a community service project to receive their state event showcase scholarship (scholarship is $100 - reimbursed to 4-H family - open to all state showcase events including state fair, state horse, state shoot).

Basics with Sheep Workshop – Tuesday, July 22
📍 Pipestone County Fairgrounds
🕕 6:00 p.m.

Whether you're new to the sheep project or looking to build your skills before the county fair, join us for the Basics with Sheep Workshop on Tuesday, July 22 at 6:00 p.m. at the Pipestone County Fairgrounds.

This hands-on workshop is designed to help youth gain confidence in caring for and exhibiting their sheep projects. Participants will have the opportunity to learn and practice essential skills, including:

🔹 Basic sheep handling techniques
🔹 Showmanship tips and practice
🔹 Daily care and management
🔹 Fair preparation and what to expect on show day
🔹 Time to ask questions and learn from experienced volunteers

Youth are encouraged to bring their sheep so they can practice handling and showmanship during the workshop. Whether this is your first year exhibiting or you're looking for a refresher before the fair, this workshop is a great opportunity to learn and prepare.

Please RSVP to the Extension Office so we can plan for the workshop. Based on registration numbers, participants may receive educational supplies and/or be eligible for door prizes.

Come build your skills, gain confidence, and get fair-ready. We look forward to seeing you there!

Basics with Beef Workshop – Wednesday, July 23
📍 Pipestone County Fairgrounds
🕕 6:00 p.m.

Get ready for county fair season by joining us for the Basics with Beef Workshop on Wednesday, July 23, at 6:00 p.m. at the Pipestone County Fairgrounds.

This interactive workshop is perfect for youth who are new to the beef project, as well as exhibitors looking to brush up on their skills before fair. Participants will receive hands-on instruction and practical tips to help them feel confident in and out of the show ring.

Topics will include:
🔹 Proper animal handling and safety
🔹 Showmanship techniques and ring etiquette
🔹 Grooming and fair-day preparation
🔹 Daily care and management practices
🔹 Answers to your beef project questions from experienced volunteers

Youth are encouraged to bring their beef project animal so they can practice what they learn during the workshop.

Please RSVP to the Extension Office so we can plan accordingly. Based on the number of participants, educational supplies and/or door prizes may be available.

Whether you're exhibiting your first calf or your fifth, this workshop is a great opportunity to learn, practice, and prepare for a successful fair experience!

July 27: Pre-Fair Judging - Performance Items
July 29: Pre-Fair Setup
July 30: 4-H Conference Judging - General Projects
August 5-8: Pipestone County Fair
August 9: Post Fair Cleanup

Showcasing projects at the fair is an important part of the 4-H experience. For some members it can feel a little intimidating at first. The good news is that judging is not only a learning experience, but also an opportunity to share your work, reflect on what you’ve learned, and celebrate your accomplishments.

While the process varies depending on the project area, all 4-H exhibit judging includes one key component: interaction between the 4-H member and an adult judge.

Livestock Exhibits

Livestock projects are judged during scheduled livestock shows throughout the fair. Youth present their animals in designated classes, and animals are evaluated and placed according to how well they meet breed and species standards. Judges may also provide feedback on animal care, showmanship, and handling to support continued learning and growth.

General Projects

General project judging uses a conference judging format, where 4-H members meet one-on-one with a judge to discuss their exhibit. Youth share what they made, learned, and experienced while completing their project. Judges then evaluate both the exhibit and the learning that took place.

Judging Dates & Locations

Different project areas are judged on different days and locations:

July 27: First Presbyterian Church, 1:00–4:00 p.m.
July 30: Blue Building, 2:00–6:30 p.m.
August 5–8: Pipestone County Fair Livestock Shows

All livestock shows occur during the county fair.
Additional resources about exhibits and the judging experience can be found on the MN 4-H Showcase website.

If you have any questions about the judging process or your fair exhibits please contact the Pipestone County Extension Office at 507-825-1190.